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NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Forster (DE 334)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: N - T - E - H
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "CIRCLE DRIVE"

CLASS: Edsall      TYPE: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,200 tons (std) 1,590 tons (full)    Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 10" x 12' 3" (max)
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 twin 40mm Mk1 AA, 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1),
1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Machinery: 4 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 knots    Range: 9,100 nm @ 12 knots    Crew: 8 / 201

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Consolidated Steel, Orange TX on 31 August 1943, Launched 13 November 1943
Commissioned 25 January 1944, Decommissioned 15 June 1946
Loaned to USCG and Recommissioned WDE-434, 29 June 1951
Returned USN and Decommissioned 25 May 1954
Reclassified and converted DER-331, 21 October 1955
Recommissioned 23 October 1956, Decommissioned 25 September 1971
Stricken 25 September 1971

Fate: Loaned to South Vietnam, 25 September 1971; renamed Tran Khanh Du (HQ-04). Captured by North Vietnamese
after the fall of Saigon, 29 April 1975. Written off as "transferred to Vietnam", 30 April 1975. Renamed Dai Ky
(HQ-03). Equipped with 2 quad SA-N-5 Grail launchers; in use as a training ship since 1993. Still operational as of 1997.

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For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Forster 56k 4 February 1952: Mare Island NSY - Aft plan view of USS Forster (WDE 434), inboard, and USS Newell (WDE 422) at Mare Island. Both were in overhaul at the yard from 10 September 1951 to 5 February 1952. (US Navy photo #DE 344 11701-52) Darryl Baker
Forster 56k 4 February 1952: Mare Island NSY - Forward plan view of USS Forster (WDE 434), inboard, and USS Newell (WDE 422). (US Navy photo #DE 344 11698-52) Darryl Baker
Forster 121k 19 September 1962: location unknown - Commander Gordon R. Nagler and Admiral John H. Sides examine the the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy plaque, during ceremonies in which Forster received the award. Established in 1962 in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, this award plaque's sculptor was H. de Bellis. In 1971 this trophy was transferred to the collections of the Curator of the Department of the Navy. (USNHC Photo #NH55887 and National Archives Photo #1061190) Bill Gonyo
Forster 56k RD2 Phil Burton had this photo scanned and printed from a cruise book photo, circa 1964 Dick Hallowell
RD1 ('64-'66)
Forster 78k May 1966: Kaohsiung, Taiwan - a nice shot of Forster's Hedgehog launcher Larry Backus
Forster 87k January 1969: Pearl Harbor - As DER 334 © Richard Leonhardt
Forster 38k passing the USS Renville (APA 227) Lt Richard Dawson
USS Renville (APA 227)
Forster 38k undated: ex-USS Forster as HQVN Tran Khanh Du (HQ-4) Bang Le

View the USS Forster (DE 334), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Byron Maggos
Address: 17506 Meadowbrook Drive / Grayslake IL 60030
Phone: (847) 918-9734
E-mail: Byron Maggos

Note About Contacts
Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.
Additional Resources

DER Group on MSN
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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Page Last Updated 14 November 2007